"DRIVING A WEDGE."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 526, 5 June 1909, Page 5

"DRIVING A WEDGE."

GERMAN POLICY. TO BREAK ANGLO-RUSSIAN ENTENTE. . A FRANK AVOWAL. (DTmSaiUfil—rßESß ASSOCIATION— COPTRIOBT.) : ;Rdo. Juno 4, 11.65 p.m.) , Berlin, June 4. German' newspapers comment on tho dovelopment announced yesterday in. a Kcuter's message—that tho Kaiser, on'his own initiative, will'meet tho Tsar in Finnish waters on Jiinp. 17, their principal diplomatic advisers (Princo Bulow and M. Isvolslty) being present; and' that tho "visit, which is entirely unexpected, .'is of Vgreat political importance." . ■'■'■'■•. '■'.:•.•.'• -' Tho Gorman .semi-official newspapers obcribe the Kaiser's visit to the Tsar's invitation. Tho '."Nachrichtcn" declares: . '-It is the duty of German dip-' ' lomacy to drive further -.wedges be- ' ■'. tween Britain and .Russia, and to '.. smash the understanding between them wherever possible." ■.' ".'■•. , The "Nadirichten" concludes by hinting 'at the possibility of Germany assisting Russia to obtain, ascendancy in Persia..,. . , PERSIA AND THE RUSSIAN' LOAN, . '■'.':■''■': ■'■'■ Teheran, June 3. 'The Provincial Council of Khoraeean, in North-eastern Persia, has protested against, the Shah borrowing without Parliamentary authority. •. • '.. '■■ ' :,-..■ The council declares that the people will i-not acknowledge the new debt. ■<; ....'-.• ~ [It was previously announced that Russia was lending Persia ~=£loo,ooo, ,on the security of tho 'Customs,' to •' pay; off. superfluous troops in Tehoran and Tabriz;. also that 1 the. British Minister would , bo, consnltod 'as. to, tho expenditure of. tho money to prevent it being used in: a-manner Jeopardising, the constitutional regime.] ... ; ■ ' ■■',■■. WARLORD'S DIPLOMATIC RETINUE. COUNT POURTALES TO, ATTEND. ' (BI TBLEGBAPn—PUES3 ASSOCIATION—COriCIOET.I '. ,'■ (Rec. Juno 4, 11 p.m.) ; j St. Petersburg, June 4. ; The German' Ambassador to .Russia (Count Pourtales), with the German military andnaval attaches at: St. Petersburg, will join tho Kaiser, duriiig his. visit to the Tsar, off tho Finnish'seaport .■-..'.■ '■'.■ , : i TWO DANGEROUS EXTREMES. In his great speech in March'on German-Bri-tish naval rivalry, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Sir Edward Groy, said:— ; . v . , "In my opinion two extreme things would produce a conflict': Ono is an attempt on our part to isolato Germany. I should: like to obsorve that 'in recent events nothing has -been more unfounded or malign in its, inlluence than the statement that any difference,of opinion we have had with regard to Austria, has been dictated by the fact that Austria was Germany's friend. On the contrary wo.hare carefully avoided , anything; which was likely to make mischief between those two Powers. (Cheers.) ~. " '•'. . ''■•, . . . • ' .

I■■ "Aiother : thing whioli would certainly-pro-duce a Conflict would be.the.isolation.of England, under, an-attempt, by -any ,'great-Con-tinehtal -Power.: to , : dominate aid dictate the polioy of 'the Continent. But b*twoen these two extremes, there, is a wide snace in which the two , nations can walk togetner in a perfeotly friendly way. (Cheers.) ■ *■- . , ."If that is understood by public opinion in the two countries, surely they must recognise that the possibilities of peace and goodwill botweeriitas sre enormous.' ■: (Cheers.) \